Kazakhstan’s Population Increases by 1.4 Million Over Five Years
Kazakhstan’s population grew by over 1.4 million between 2019 and 2023, reaching 20,033,842 by the end of 2023, according to a recent report by Economy.kz. This growth was driven by complex demographic shifts shaped by both internal dynamics and external challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
By 2023, the population included 9.7 million men and 10.2 million women. Birth rates peaked at 445,875 in 2021 due to economic and social improvements but declined to 388,428 in 2023, possibly reflecting economic uncertainties. The pandemic caused a temporary rise in mortality, peaking at 181,216 in 2021, before stabilizing at 130,686 in 2023.
Natural population growth slowed, with the growth rate per thousand people dropping from 14.54 in 2019 to 12.95 in 2023. Life expectancy, which dropped to a low of 70.38 years in 2021, recovered to 75.10 years by 2023, although a significant gap remains between men (70.99 years) and women (79.06 years).
Population density varies widely across regions, impacting resource distribution. Astana has the highest density, with 1,794.4 people per square kilometer, while the Ulytau Region has the lowest at 1.2 people per square kilometer. Migration also contributed to population changes, with a positive balance of 9,293 people in 2023.
